Ikea, M&S, Mothercare, Next and Homesense could be on way to Charlton

Under plans agreed by a Greenwich Council board on Tuesday (January 28) the Matalan on Bugsby's Way will be demolished and replaced with two new units.

Negotiations are underway with Next and Mothercare for the new buildings, while the current Matalan will be relocated to a smaller site.

More controversially, the neighbouring Brocklebank industrial estate - currently home to eight small businesses - will be converted into two large new retail units - possibly a new Matalan and Homesense, with the existing tenants moved to new premises on the Woolwich Road.

At a remarkably quick planning meeting, current tenant William Adewole, who runs Homrad MOT, said he had initially been angry about a lack of consultation, but had been reassured by developer LXB.

Councillor David Grant was the only member to raise any concerns about the two schemes, asking if there should be a "broader range of industry" rather than retail giants.

He said: "I just wonder whether there's a danger in this kind of development that we shall end up with masses and masses of shops and nowhere else for anyone to work."

Meanwhile, Ikea have submitted their application to demolish Sainsbury's Greenwich and replace it with a branch of the furniture giant.

Its plan, which will see Sainsbury's move to Gallions Road alongside a new M&S, has proved controversial. The current Sainsbury's store was billed as a model of sustainable construction when built 15 years ago and a petition to save it has attracted 724 signatures so far.

All the developments represent good business for developer LXB Retail properties, who bought up a string of prime retail sites in the area since 2009.

It has sold the Gallions Road site for £58m, Brocklebank could go for £50.6m while neighbouring Stone Lake with Currys, PC World and Halfords - was recently flogged for £32.95m.